Friday, July 30, 2010

Hi! I am having a yard sale Saturday on the 400 block of Dunkirk Road from 8-12. Would you mind posting on the site? It's going to lots of home decorating items, housewares, some kid things, books and CDS etc-sould be pretty big. Thanks!

Also...I am looking for a soccer league in the Fall that takes three year-olds turning four in the fall. I looked at Towson Rec but they have to be four well before the fall to qualify. Do you know of any programs, or could you put the word out to see if anyone else does?

Thursday, July 29, 2010

The Baltimore Sun: Amid mounting complaints from homeowners dealing with irresponsible renters in their neighborhoods, the Baltimore County Council is considering a bill that could force landlords to curb tenants' rowdy behavior or face loss of their rental licenses.

"Some of these communities are at their wits' ends," said Councilman Vincent Gardina, the bill's sponsor. "We need to be stricter about this." ... Full story here.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Crystal Palace Baltimore has teamed up with Under Armour to put on their First Annual 3v3 Tournament on August 14th at Calvert Hall College.

Besides soccer the festival will also include other activities such as bounce houses, a DJ playing music all day, and even a vendor village made up of local businesses showcasing their products. The night will be capped off with professional soccer match featuring our very own Crystal Palace Baltimore vs. the Carolina Railhawks.

This is meant to be a fun tournament for the kids and and a way for the coaches to get their players excited about the upcoming season.

Summer Kids-only Pickup Games: Every Monday and Thursday from 6-8pm at the baseball fields on Stevenson Lane behind Rodgers Forge Elementary school. The kids make the rules and pick the games. It's baseball like we used to play as kids.

Summer Father/Mother and Son/Daughter Pickup Games - This designed for kids of all ages (13 and up). Every Wednesday from 6-8pm at the baseball field on Stevenson Lane behind Rodgers Forge Elem school.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

This cat has been wandering around my group of houses in the unit block of Dunkirk, odd numbered side, since this afternoon. It has no tags, but a flea collar. It's super skinny and seems friendly. Since you seem to be the clearinghouse for lost pets lately [I do, don't I?], I thought I'd send pix to you.

Friday, July 23, 2010

I can't figure out if this is for women who want to start actually playing football, or for women who want to understand it better so they can [at least try to] enjoy watching it with the football fans in their lives. I asked the TU person and he said it's to "for a general understanding of the game."

"Join us Saturday morning, July 24th, from 8am until 11am for a multi-household book sale on Stevenson Lane at Osler. Hundreds of books, both new and used, will be for sale. Nothing over $2.00. Many popular authors and titles, fiction and non-fiction, hardback and paperback will be available. Great prices and selection!"

Monday morning we rescued a young female pup that was wandering around a busy intersection in Baltimore city during rush hour. We are looking to find a good home for her. She is very friendly, has gorgeous markings and one blue eye.

If you or anyone you know may be interested in adopting her, read below for more info and email me with any questions at paigeclulow (at) gmail.com

~Paige & Nick (maxed out with 2 greys and 4 cats)

PS from our dog trainer: BARCS says "We had 69 animals come in yesterday and we are euthanizing pretty much every animal that comes in the door because we don’t have space. Dog and cats…..need rescue assistance very badly." Kat Knauff, Adoption Counselor, Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter, 410-396-4695

MORE INFO: Nick was commuting to work (via bicycle) and noticed her wandering around. She began to follow Nick, even through an intersection. She had only a piece of trash tied around her neck as a collar.

From the Towson Chamber of Commerce: "Voodoo Economics, a sub group of Mood Swings, will be playing tonight [Friday] on Allegheny Avenue just off the Towson Circle. They are great!! Music starts at 6:30pm. There will be a moon bounce and activities for the kids, and food and drink available for purchase. No outside alcohol and no pets may be brought in to the block party.

At 7:30 pm we will take a few moments to honor Officer William "Flipper" Anderson, a police officer from the Towson Precinct who succumbed last week to injuries sustained in an off duty motorcycle accident that occurred on July 11, 2010. Everybody will be invited to raise a glass to salute "Flipper" Anderson with his favorite drink -- cranberry juice and ginger ale.

Officer Anderson Officer Anderson served our community for almost 15 years and was a Business Patrol Officer for much of the last 3 years. On the Friday nights he worked he would always stop by our Feet on the Street concerts. He will be truly missed.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

In my political door knocking journeys, I met a 94 year old railroad enthusiast, Lou Krapp (pronounced Kropp) from Carney. He is part of a group, Chesapeake + Allegheny Steam Preservation Society, that runs miniature steam locomotives in Leakin Park over on the west side off Windsor Mill Road.

I thought if any of you were train buffs or wanted an interesting change of pace for your kids - this might be a cool place to visit. You can ride on these trains on the 2nd Sunday of the month. Lou still builds track and works there most Sundays.

Monday, July 19, 2010

I really love this concept. Sometimes when I'd be reading a Winnie the Pooh story to my kids, I'd look at their little homes in the trees that were decorated with only a bed, a chair and a few honey pots and really wish my life could be so simple. We try to not accumulate too much junk, but with two kids and all the stuff and paper associated with that, it's not easy.

I've received several messages from people asking why they don't receive daily email updates from the Forge Flyer anymore. This is not my area of expertise (we're still trying to find out what that is exactly) but I have switched the email service to FeedBurner. So, if you subscribed in the past but aren't getting emails, just enter your email address below and you should be good to go.

If you are currently getting the emails and it's working fine, you don't have to do anything -- the emails should continue.

Thanks!

Enter your e-mail to have new posts sent to your inbox once a day. Your info will not be shared and you won't be spammed. And, of course, it's free. Currently 500 subscribers.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Rodgers Forge resident Art Buist, who is running for the House of Delegates in the 42nd District, is holding his second fundraiser this Thursday, July 22nd, from 5 to 8pm at Sammy’s Trattoria, 1200 North Charles Street. It will include a wine tasting with Italian food.

“A lot of 42nd District residents work downtown and commute back to communities like Rodgers Forge and Towson every evening," Buist said. "This will give supporters and friends a chance to stop by for a happy hour on their way home.”

The kick-off fundraiser for the Art Buist for Delegate campaign was held in April at the Stoneleigh Bakery on York Road.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Organizers say: "This is a great community event that is normally only held in the Spring & Fall, but we have added a summer sale this year and have had a TON of interest from the community. We offer families a great opportunity to resell their new & gently used children's clothing, toys, baby equipment, books, dvds, and more!

This space is such a waste and a shame. It could be so neat -- what happened? People I know who have been to the theater there in the past few years say the loud and active mice and/or the loud and rambunctious teens drove them away. It's like a ghost town now.

The Great Prostate Cancer Challenge is a very special community activity that brings together athletes, cancer survivors, physicians, caretakers, family members and friends to help end prostate cancer. It is the only men’s health fundraiser in the nation that is supported by physician groups and was founded by Chesapeake Urology Associates. We invite you to lace up your running shoes for our annual 5K Run and join us in our mission to end prostate cancer. You can be a force in this growing cause by participating in the run and by making a donation.

CPSC is aware of a death of a 2-year-old boy in December 2008 in Vinalhaven, Maine. ... They were sold at Walmart, Amazon.com and various baby and children's stores nationwide from January 2005 through February 2010 for about $60.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

We are planning to redo our basement. As part of this project, we want to make what is currently a single toilet into a full bath. I know there are a number of people in the Forge who have created full baths in their basements. Would you mind posting a request on the Forge Flyer for anyone who has a full bath in their basement to post some pictures? It doesn't seem like a lot of space to work with, so I'm curious to see what creative things others have done.

Thank you!Jennifer

Here is one example from a previous post. Anyone have more photos to post? I wish I did; we have just an old toilet with little ramshackle walls surrounding it.

Pottery Barn Kids Recalls to Repair Drop-Side Cribs Due to Entrapment, Suffocation and Fall Hazards. CPSC and Pottery Barn Kids have received 36 reports of drop sides that have malfunctioned or detached, resulting in seven minor injuries when children fell out of the cribs or got their legs caught between the mattress and the drop side. One child became entrapped at the head between the drop side and crib mattress but was freed without injury. Details here.

Another article, in the East County Times, about Bill Paulshock filing to run for a county council seat in a district in which he does not live. Click here for the story and then click on the image of the article to read.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

From Citizens on Patrol: The tragic death on July 11th of Officer First Class William E. Anderson III is a great loss for Towson, Baltimore County and everyone who know Officer Anderson. He was highly respected by his fellow officers and by those of us who worked with him. Besides driving citizens on ride-alongs and working closely with youth and neighborhood associations, most recently he was assisting local businesses in a new anti-crime initiative.

Known affectionately as "Flipper," Officer Anderson was recently honored on June 18, 2010 as an "Unsung Hero" by Towson Area Citizens on Patrol (TACOP) at the Annual Rally Against Crime. "Flipper"was great and we will miss him greatly.

The Daily Record reports that Mike Ertel's campaign will not sue over Bill Paulshock's residency issue.

“We do not believe it is our job to do the job of the Board of Elections,” [campaign manager Cathi] Forbes wrote. “By choosing to not investigate the matter, they are, in our opinion, aiding and abetting voter fraud.”

... Paulshock acknowledged Tuesday that he has not always been registered to vote at the Perry Hall address as his statement announcing his candidacy claims.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

I appreciate that so many of you have gotten in touch after the e-mail I sent last evening. The reason I’m writing is to follow-up regarding the door-to-door salesman.

He actually knocked on my door just a little while ago and said that two of my neighbors had referred him, which I know they did not. I called the Baltimore County non-emergency number (410-887-2222) and they immediately sent out an officer. I witnessed the officer speaking to him at the bottom of Blenheim. The officer later spoke with me individually and assured me that he truly is just a salesperson. His name is Stuart and he’s here as an exchange student for the summer from a college in Missouri. He’s majoring in education and selling children’s books as his summer job. She ran his name through her computer and this is the case. He has a legitimate permit to go door-to-door.

He’s working for a company out of Nashville called “Southwestern”. Here are two links that explain their business:

I also spoke to an officer at the Towson Precinct this morning who assured me that they have absolutely no reason to believe that this door-to-door salesman is at all related to the attempted burglaries that occurred yesterday morning.

I’ll be in touch if additional information becomes available.

----------

Note: I just talked to an officer at the Towson precinct. He said so far all the people they've checked out appear to be legitimate salespeople. He said he can't guarantee that none of these people are scammers, but so far they have no evidence of that. I would still be extremely cautious. -Kris

Dear Neighbors,

I’m writing to make you aware of some disturbing incidents that have occurred over the past 24 hours in Gaywood. I apologize in advance for the length of this e-mail but much has happened.

Beginning yesterday afternoon around 12:00pm a young white male was seen knocking on doors throughout the neighborhood. At one house in the 200 block of Blenheim he didn’t identify who he was but rather was more interested in trying to come into the house to talk to the resident about what he was selling. He also wanted to know in which houses there would be children sleeping because he “didn’t want to ring the door bell and wake up the kids”. He continued to try to get the resident to tell him who was home and who had children. She didn’t give him any information but she did disclose her first name.

I don't know anything about Bill Paulshock but I am baffled by this residency issue. The Towson Times reports that Paulshock, who is running for a Baltimore County Council seat in the 5th district (Towson area), appears to actually live in Kingsville, which is in the 3rd district. Based on everything the article said, it's pretty obvious he lives in Kingsville.

So how is it he is running in the 5th? And why is it that someone who alerts the Board of Elections to this discrepancy is told he must take the matter to court? What exactly is the role of the Board of Elections anyway?

(Full disclosure, I am friends with Cathi Forbes, who is the campaign manager of Mike Ertel, who is also running for County Council in the 5th. But facts are facts.)

Click here to read the complaint that Forbes filed. It is truly fascinating.

Again, I know nothing about Paulshock. There's a distinct chance that if I lived in the 3rd district I would vote for him. But I don't. And he does.

What do you think? Post or read comments here:

Why is Paulshock running in the 5th district when he lives in the 3rd?

The retailers have partnered with Baltimore Area Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS), who will have a pup on hand during each event for plenty of enticement, as well as information on the adoption process and other programs offered through the shelter such as fostering and dog training. The adoption fee is $65 and covers spay/neuter surgery, an adoption class and essential vaccinations.

Councilman Vince Gardina has introduced a bill that would revoke a landlord's license after three infractions within a certain period of time. I would imagine this will be on the Rodgers Forge board's agenda at tomorrow night's meeting, as there is a work session about the bill on July 27 at which Gardina wants community leaders to testify in support it.

> The Native Berry Festival has been re-scheduled for Sunday, July 11 > from noon to... 5 p.m. at Herring Run Park & Belair Road. Hope to > see you and your native berry dessert entry there!! And, thanks to > Tim Wheeler for a nice write-up on the B'More Green blog!!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

I just got a notice from Meadowbrook about limited hours this weekend* and it reminded me that someone suggested a post on pools. If you belong to a pool, which one is it? What do you like about it?

We go to Meadowbrook and it's generally fine. My kids are recreational swimmers, though, so we're not into the competitive action. (Though my friends and I were not thrilled the other day when there was *one* lifeguard on duty for the entire large pool. And the limited hours are not my favorite thing.)

I was talking to someone the other day who goes to Padonia and he said the vibe is very vacation-like with music, etc.

Where do you spend your swim dollars?

*Meadowbrook says: Due to the size of the meet, BOTH POOLS will be needed Friday Night for Competition, so there will be NO INDOOR LANES AVAILABLE AFTER 5:15 on Friday July 9. The OUTDOOR POOL will close at 4:30 instead of 5 PM. However, the timelines have the meet finishing just after 7 PM, so lap lanes will be available after 7 until 8 outdoors and after 7 until 9:30 indoors. For the remaining three days of the meet, the Main Outdoor and Indoor Pools will be open 1-5 Saturday, Sunday and Monday July 10, 11 & 12. Three lanes will be avilable indoors after 5 each of those days. The children's pool has regular hours.

Councilman Gardina has introduced what looks like good legislation to address problem rentals. Anyone who is concerned about rowdy renters or who has some nearby can participate in the work session mentioned below.

Dear Community Leaders,

In past years, I worked very hard to get the Rental Housing Registration Legislation enacted in Baltimore County. I believe that it has brought forth some positive changes, but many of you realize first hand that more needs to be done.

Councilman Kevin Kamenetz and I have listened to the concerns and frustration you experienced when dealing with rental properties in your communities. After events like Towson University's Tigerfest, we were as frustrated as you that more could not be done to make these Landlords accountable for the sometimes egregious behavior of their tenants.

I hope that you will be pleased to learn that Councilman Kamenetz and I have sponsored the attached legislation that would, indeed, make those landlords accountable for the behavior of their tenants. This legislation will allow for the rental license to be revoked if there are more then two animal control law violations, disorderly conduct violations, disturbance of the peace violations, disorderly house violations, dangerous substance abuse violations, health violations, alcohol violations, or public nuisance violations in a six month period (after notice has been made to the landlord of the initial two violations).

This Bill was introduced at last night's Legislative Session. It will be discussed at the July 27, 2010 Work Session at 2 p.m. Final Reading and Vote will occur at the Legislative Session on August 2, 2010 at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers.We ask for your support of this legislation. If any of you are able to testify in support of this bill at the July 27th Work Session, that would be ideal. The Work Session takes place in the Plum Room, adjacent to the County Council offices, on the 2nd floor of the Old Courthouse in Towson. Please feel free to contact my office at 410-887-3384 with any questions.

Sincerely,Vince Gardina

I was slightly confused so I asked him this:

Hi Councilman Gardina,

To clarify, could the license be revoked by a combination of any two infractions? For instance, one disorderly conduct violation and one alcohol violation?

Thanks!Kris

His reply:After 2 infractions (a combination of any of those violations listed), the landlord would be given notice that if there is a 3rd infraction in the 6 months that follow, then the license could be revoked.

The fence (between Rodgers Forge and TU) is up. The trees are planted. The hot, dry summer has arrived! While the fencing and planting are complete at the TU/ Rodgers Forge property line, our Landscape Services will continue to closely monitor the health of the green giant trees for several months as they acclimate.

As of today, the irrigation drip system that Landscape Services will use for frequent and consistent watering is now up and running. We have heard the stories of at least two neighbors who took it upon themselves to water the trees through this period of extreme heat and drought conditions. We certainly appreciate your concern and help. Thank you.

This should conclude updates on this particular project.

Have a Happy 4th Weekend,

Marina H. CooperAssistant to the President for External Relations and CommunicationOffice of the PresidentTowson University

Friday, July 2, 2010

Join us for a merry berry day in the park!Eat finger-lickin BBQ, enjoy live music and cheer on competitors in a native berry dessert contest.Brewers Art beer, local wine, food, berries, native trees, native shrubs and crafts will be on sale. Non-profits and community groups will be exhibiting!http://baywatersheds.org/events/berry-festival/

A note from Josh of the West Towson neighborhood association: "Most people don't know this but the fireworks display at the Loch Raven Academy near Calvert Hall are organized and funded entirely by a neighborhood association - Loch Raven Village. They get no county or other government funding and rely entirely on donations -- so, it seems to me that it would be a good thing for every family that attends and all area neighborhood associations who have loads of residents who attend (including the Forge, etc...) to donate something to help this event (the Loch Raven Village association really struggles each year to find the money to pay for the fireworks, security fencing, permits, etc...). FYI - the West Towson Neighborhood Association donated $250.00 this year."

Thursday, July 1, 2010

It is with mixed emotions that I have to announce that Simply Noted is closing its doors permanently as of Saturday, July 31st.

There have been many changes within the stationery industry and the consumer marketplace over the past two years which have added significant pressure to our business. It is because of those changes and the desire to spend more time with my two small children that I have chosen to close my store.

Thank you for all of your support and patronage over the past 7 1/2 years. I have truly enjoyed getting to know you and your families and will value all the wonderful memories and friendships this store has brought my employees and me.

We have great deals on remaining inventory and displays, so I hope that you can find time amidst your summer vacations to visit us before we close.

Children of the World co-op playgroup. A great place for kids to play and parents to relax and chat. Located in (though not affiliated with) the cathedral at University Parkway and St. Paul Street, in the Guilford area. Runs year round. More info here.